Bizarre moment Covid marshal issues YELLOW CARD to lockdown flouters

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One more and you’re off! Bizarre moment Covid marshal issues YELLOW CARD to lockdown flouters and tells them if they break rules again police will be called

  • Football punishment used by officers against group who had been protesting
  • It is believed to have been filmed in Stratford Park, Stroud, Gloucestershire 
  • Marshals issue cards to those who ‘seriously or repeatedly flout advice given’
  • The officers, introduced in September, do not have formal enforcement powers 

By Tom Pyman For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

This is the bizarre moment a Covid marshal showed lockdown flouters a yellow card and warned them police will be called if they break rules again.

In an incredible video, the football punishment was used on a group of people who had been protesting by two officers wearing red hi-vis jackets.

It is believed to have been filmed in Stratford Park, Stroud, Gloucestershire, where dozens attended an anti-lockdown rally on November 7, which saw the organiser fined £10,000. 

Another marshal asks the group to leave

A Covid marshal issues a group in a park with a yellow card (pictured left) while his colleague asks them to leave (pictured right)

So what powers DO Boris’s army of Covid Secure Marshals have? 

Those breaking the rules can expect a £100 fine from police, which will then double on each repeat offence up to £3,200, with the Covid marshals also introduced in a bid to improve the enforcement capacity of local authorities. 

Some councils already had marshals who go to busy areas and give advice if people are not social distancing, even before the Prime Minister announced a wider roll out in September.

They also explain the rules, such as wearing a face mask on public transport.

They cannot fine people but they can alert the police. The move addressed concerns that police were struggling to enforce social-distancing rules because they applied differently in various circumstances.

Police have the power to arrest rule-breakers if needed, as well as fining them £100, which will then double on each repeat offence up to £3,200. 

Recently retired environmental health officers were also drafted in to enforce legislation at pubs and restaurants. 

The marshals help enforce social-distancing rules and ensure contact details of all customers are collected for the test and trace system.

They patrol parks, shopping centres, train stations and other areas where groups of people are likely to gather in larger numbers.  

Gloucester City Council announced earlier this month that eight marshals would be hitting the streets to help combat the spread of the virus.

But the officers do not have an enforcement role, they can only issue yellow cards ‘as a very last resort’ to people who ‘seriously or repeatedly flout advice given to them’, the local authority says.

This could then lead to a fine from either the police or their local council.

The marshals also offer tips on social distancing, work with retailers to help them be Covid secure and are armed with hand gel to give away to those who need it. 

The video footage, which has gone viral in recent days, shows the officers appearing to take on the role of a football referee by speaking to a group before flashing a yellow card at them. 

In the clip, the marshal brandishing the caution says: ‘Carry on walking, if you won’t leave I will give you a yellow card.’

A person filming on his phone replies: ‘Yellow card? What is it?’

A second officer then responds, saying: ‘A yellow card is what we give you if you breach Covid regulations.

‘You have also been to a protest up the road. 

‘You’ve been walking around the park where the protest has been taking place and you’ve been stood there watching, therefore you’ve breached the Covid regulations because you’re not exercising, you’re in a gathering.

‘We issue a yellow card as a first warning and we issue the second yellow card as a final warning and that’s when police will come and enforce it by fining you.’

Boris Johnson announced in September the officers would be rolled out in towns and cities to help prevent large gatherings and the spread of the virus.

However, the scheme was largely mocked on social media and Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said rank-and-file officers were left ‘absolutely baffled’ by what the marshals will actually do.

The officers do not have an enforcement role, they can only issue yellow cards 'as a very last resort' to people who 'seriously or repeatedly flout advice given to them'

The officers do not have an enforcement role, they can only issue yellow cards 'as a very last resort' to people who 'seriously or repeatedly flout advice given to them'

The officers (pictured left and right) do not have an enforcement role, they can only issue yellow cards ‘as a very last resort’ to people who ‘seriously or repeatedly flout advice given to them’

In a joint statement earlier this month, council leaders in Gloucestershire announced the roll-out of more Covid marshals.

They said: ‘These continue to be tough times for us all and we want to do all we can to help people to be aware of the things they can do to keep themselves and others safe and most importantly reduce the spread of Covid in the county.

‘Although increasing, the number of cases remains low compared to many other places. We want to make sure it stays that way and would encourage everyone to play their part by remembering three simple things hands, face and space.’

It comes after police and Trading Standards warned of fake coronavirus mashals pretending to check for rule breaches and stealing from homes once they are let inside.